Ozone Music Education Foundation
a celebration of singer-songwriters, music education and commerce
WRITTEN BY KIM BERGERON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY SANDS
IT’S BEEN SAID that everybody has a story to tell. Some of those people set their stories to music. They are the singer-songwriters, the storytellers, whose methodical and melodical rhythms and rhymes can transport us to another place and time. They are the inspiration for the Ozone Songwriter Festival. The annual event is presented by Ozone Music Education Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide music education, support, and mentorship to those wanting to learn the music industry and develop skills and
Showcase featuring local musicians, plus renowned
knowledge as songwriters and musicians.
superstars. This event is ticketed and usually sells out
The organization and its events were founded
far in advance. The 2023 headliners included Jason
by award-winning musician and composer Greg
Scheff, longtime lead vocalist for Chicago, singer-
Barnhill, who hails from Slidell but currently lives
songwriter Mark Mackay, and three finalists from
in Nashville, singing, writing and producing music
The Voice – Morgan Myles, Kim Cruse, and Gabriel
with some of the most celebrated artists from
Thomas Broussard. Prior showstoppers have included
“Music City” and beyond. The festival began in 2018
Survivor and The Ides of March vocalist and guitarist
as a single-day event held in Mandeville but has
Jim Peterick, best known as co-writer of the Rocky III
since grown to a three-day celebration.
anthem “Eye of the Tiger”; Journey keyboardist and
Day One kicks off with a Friday night Songwriter
rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain; country music singersongwriters Gary Baker and Frank Myers, whose Grammy Award-winning song "I Swear" has sold more than 20 million copies; actor and country music singer John Schneider, best known for his role of “Bo” Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard TV Series; award-winning songwriter Anna Nalick, whose single “Breathe (2 a.m.)” was a platinum hit; and Dennis Matkosky, co-writer of the Academy Award-nominated “Maniac” featured in the movie Flashdance. Day Two of the festival brings morning Songwriter Workshops which draw curious beginners to seasoned pros. The 2023 workshop featured Barnhill
18 Sophisticated Woman | January 2024
